Kit of higher order aberration contact lenses and methods of use

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a kit of contact lenses, comprising two or more contact lenses having a known higher order aberration for each given lens power. By way of example, the higher order aberration may comprise a spherical aberration, a coma aberration, or a trefoil aberration. A practitioner selects a lens from the kit and applies the lens to a patient&#39;s eye and measures a residual higher order aberration of the lens-eye system. In cases where the residual higher order aberration exceeds a predetermined magnitude, the practitioner selects a second lens from the kit, applies the second lens to the patient&#39;s eye and measures the residual higher order aberration of the lens-eye system.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates generally to contact lenses, and more particularlyto a kit of higher order aberration contact lenses and methods of use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Contact lenses with optics designed to correct low order aberrations areavailable in several classes of materials anti in a multitude ofdesigns. Such lenses were first manufactured in rigid non-gas permeablematerial. Hydrogel materials have also been used successfully along withrigid gas permeable materials. Each of these classes of materials haveadvanced to offer ultra-high oxygen permeability. More recently, the twoclasses of materials have been combined in composite or hybrid lenses tocreate lenses with rigid gas permeable centers which are bonded tohydrogel peripheral skirts.

Heretofore, all of these commercialized lenses have been designed andmanufactured with optics to correct low order aberrations. For example,U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,204 to Magnante discloses methods for measuring thelens-eye system with predicate lenses for the purpose of manufacturinglenses with higher order aberration correction. The methods are limitedto producing a unique lens for each individual eye of a patient. Inother words, a contact lens produced using Magante's method provides acustom solution based upon the patient's unique eye characteristics.Other known methods include those for measuring the registration andmarking hybrid lenses intended for the correction of higher orderaberrations. To date, however, no such lenses have been commercialized.

In view of the above, there remains a need to provide correction forhigher order aberrations. The single higher order aberration having thegreatest incidence and clinical significance is spherical aberration. Bythe selection of anterior and posterior curves in a contact lens design,each lens will have a predicted spherical aberration which is added tothe unique aberration of the eye upon which it is applied, (See, e.g.,Spherical Aberration of Aspheric Contact Lenses on Eye, Hammer andHolden, Optometry and Vision Science, 1994). In some cases, thespherical aberration of the lens will add to the spherical aberration.of the eye, while in other cases the spherical aberration of the lenswill subtract or cancel out the spherical aberration of the eye.

The analysis of the measurements of the spherical aberration of thehuman eye demonstrates a range from negative to positive values centeredon a low positive amount of spherical aberration. An analysis of contactlenses for the correction of low order refractive errors alsodemonstrates a range from negative to positive values. Some productshave been reported to have different amounts of lens sphericalaberration across the power range offered in the product. The resultantspherical aberration of a finished lens in air and on the eye can bemodulated by the selection of radii of curvature and the degree ofasphericity of the surfaces. Even so, it appears that little effort hasbeen directed to select an ideal spherical aberration. and to hold sucha value constant across the power range of commercialized products.

As a result, the lens selected by a practitioner may fortuitously have adesired spherical aberration to cancel the aberration of a specific eyeor conversely have an undesired spherical aberration that will add tothe spherical aberration of a specific eye. In general, the prevalenceof aberrometers in eye care practitioners' offices is growing. Even so,there is a paucity of evidence in the literature: the recommendation tomeasure residual aberrations of the lens eye system for the purpose ofselecting a lens which will have the lowest residual sphericalaberration or a specific spherical aberration.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a kit containing two or morelenses g known higher order aberration values for each given lens power.Such higher order aberration values may include spherical aberrationvalues, coma values and trefoil values. Methods for using the kit arealso provided. In operation, an eye care practitioner is able to selectlenses from the kit and measure the residual higher order aberration ofthe lens-eye system. In the event the residual aberrations are positiveor negative, or of an undesired magnitude, a second lens could beselected and applied to the eye, and the residual aberrations couldagain be measured and the process repeated until a final lens isselected. that provides the targeted direction and magnitude ofspherical aberration and/or coma and/or trefoil.

Unlike the conventional methods set forth hereinabove, the presentinvention does not require customization for any or all higher orderaberrations. Moreover, the use of the kit containing a set of lenseshaving known higher order aberration values for each given lens powerallows for same day dispensing of lenses from the kit with a resultantdesired spherical aberration correction.

One embodiment of the invention is directed toward the present inventionprovides a kit of contact lenses comprising two or more contact lenseshaving a known higher order aberration for each given lens power. By wayof example, the higher order aberration may comprise a sphericalaberration, a coma aberration, or a trefoil aberration. A practitionerselects a lens from the kit and applies the lens to a patient's eye andmeasures a residual higher order aberration of the lens-eye system. Incases where the residual higher order aberration exceeds a predeterminedmagnitude, the practitioner selects a second lens from the kit, appliesthe second lens to the patient's eye and measures the residual higherorder aberration of the lens-eye system. In some embodiments of theinvention, the residual higher order aberration of the lens-eye systemcomprises a positive and / or a negative spherical aberration betweenzero and 0.15 microns over 6 millimeters.

In one implementation, the kit of contact lenses includes at least onelens of each incremental low order power. The lenses may be configuredto have at least one base curve, one diameter, a series of low orderaberration lens powers, and an increment of difference in lens powerbetween lenses. In certain embodiments, each lens is manufactured tohave a known spherical aberration. Each lens may then be marked with acode defining its base curve radius, diopter power, and sphericalaberration. By way of example, the lenses may be marked using lasermarkings, color markings or silk screen images.

Additional embodiments of the invention may feature a kit of contactlenses comprising two or more lenses of various low order powers thatare manufactured to have two or more different known higher orderaberrations.

Further embodiments of the invention may feature a kit of contact lensescomprising two or more lenses that are manufactured to have two or morebase curves and two or more diameters.

Another embodiment of the invention comprises a method for using a kitof contact lenses, comprising: selecting a lens from the kit andapplying the lens to a patient's eye; measuring a residual higher orderaberration of the lens-eye system; if the residual higher orderaberration of the lens-eye system is not of a desired direction ormagnitude, selecting a second lens from front the kit and, applying thelens to the patient's eye and measuring the residual higher orderaberration of the lens-eye system; and if the residual higher orderaberration of the lens-eye system is of a desired direction andmagnitude, selecting the lens as the final lens for the patient's eye.

Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the featuresin accordance with embodiments of the invention, The summary is notintended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined solely bythe claims attached hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention, in accordance with one or more variousembodiments, is described in detail with reference to the followingfigures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only andmerely depict typical or example embodiments of the invention. Thesedrawings are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of theinvention and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, orapplicability of the invention, It should be noted that tor clarity andease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily to scale.

FIG. 1 is a, in accordance with the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a, in accordance with the principles of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a sample laser mark that can be parsed to determinethe parameters of the lens.

The figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the inventionto the precise form disclosed. It should be understood that theinvention can be practiced with modification and alteration, and thatthe invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a kit containing two or havingknown higher order aberration values such as spherical aberrationvalues, for each given lens power. In further embodiments of theinvention, methods for using the kit of lenses are also provided. Inoperation, an eye care practitioner is able to select lenses from frontthe kit and measure the residual higher order aberrations of thelens-eye system. In the event a residual aberration is positive ornegative, or of an undesired magnitude, a second lens could be selectedand applied to the eye, and the residual aberrations could again bemeasured and the process repeated until a final lens is selected thatprovides the targeted direction and magnitude of higher orderaberrations such as spherical aberration, coma and trefoil.

As set forth herein, various higher order aberrations, such as sphericalaberrations, may be treated using the kit of lenses. It should be notedthat correcting spherical aberrations is generally much easier thancorrecting other higher order aberrations. In particular, coma andtrefoil have the added dimension of having an axis or an orientationalspecification, while spherical aberration does not. For this reason,embodiments of the invention for the correction of coma and trefoilrequire orientationally stable lenses and include a predeterminedorientation relative to a position on the lens. Although the exemplaryembodiments described below are specifically directed toward thecorrection of spherical aberrations, the kit of lenses may also containlenses specifically adapted for the correction of other higher orderaberrations such. coma and trefoil. In addition, various lenses may beconfigured for the correction of any combination of higher orderaberrations.

In most instances, a desired residual spherical aberration correction ofthe lens-eye system is between zero and 0.15 microns over 6 millimeters.By contrast, the range of aberrations for the normal population isbetween 0.25 microns over 6 millimeters negative spherical aberration to0.35 microns over 6 mm positive spherical aberration. This rangeprovides the construct for the design of the kit of lenses set forthherein.

In one embodiment of the invention, the kit of contact lenses includesat least one lens of each incremental low order power. Additionally,each lens is manufactured to have a known spherical aberration, and eachlens is marked accordingly, for example using laser markings, colormarkings or silk screen images. The lenses in the kit may be configuredto have at least one base curve, one diameter, a series of low orderaberration lens powers, and an increment of difference in lens powerbetween lenses. The kit of lenses includes a minimum power and a maximumpower for the range of the series. By way of example, FIG. 1 provides atable 100 comprising the configuration if a sample kit of contact lenseshaving known spherical aberration values for each given lens power. Thetable 100 indicated that the kit includes lenses having a single basecurve radius of 8.4 mm, a power ranging from +8 to −12, a sphericalaberration of 0.15 micron, a lens power increment of 0.25 diopters and adiameter of 14.2 mm.

According to the invention, a further embodiment of the kit comprisestwo or more lenses of various low order powers that are manufactured tohave two or more different known spherical aberrations. In variousembodiments, the kit may contain lenses in a series of each incrementalpower or may skip some powers within the range. Additionally, thespherical aberrations of each low order power may be the same throughoutthe range or may vary throughout the range. FIG. 2 provides a table 200comprising another configuration of a sample kit of contact lenseshaving two or snore lenses of various powers which arc manufactured tohave two or more different values of spherical aberration correction.The table 200 indicates that the kit includes lenses having a base curveradius ranging from 8.4 mm to 8.7 mm, a power ranging from +8 to −12, aspherical aberration ranging from 0.15 micron to −0.15 micron, a lenspower increment of 2.5 diopters, a spherical aberration increment of0.15 micron and a diameter of 14.2 mm.

An additional embodiment of the kit comprises two or more lenses thatare manufactured to have two or more base curves and/or two or morediameters. Each lens type includes a series of leases with different loworder powers having known spherical aberration values for each givenlens power.

According to some embodiments, the lenses in the kit are labeled to helpthe eye care practitioner use and navigate within the kit when applyinglenses to a patient's eyes and measuring the residual lens-eye systemaberrations. The lenses themselves can be laser marked or marked by wayof silk screen images or by way of color markings, which can beinterpreted by the practitioner to decode the parameters of the lens.FIG. 3 illustrates a contact lens 300 having a laser mark 310 that canbe parsed to determine the parameters of the lens. In this particularimplementation, the laser mark, “84-325P15,” is parsed, decoded and/ordecrypted by the practitioner to define the contact lens 300 having an8.40 mm base curve radius, a −3.25 diopter power, and a positive 0.15micron spherical aberration.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it should be understood that they have been presented by way ofexample only, and not of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams maydepict an example architectural or other configuration for theinvention, which is done to aid in understanding the features andfunctionality that can be included in the invention. The invention isnot restricted to the illustrated example architectures orconfigurations, but the desired features can be implemented using avariety of alternative architectures and configurations. Indeed, it willbe apparent to one of skill n the art how alternative functional,logical or physical partitioning and configurations can be implementedto implement the desired features of the present invention. Also, amultitude of different constituent module names other than thosedepicted herein can be applied to various partitions. Additionally, withregard to flow diagrams, operational descriptions and method claims, theorder in which the steps are presented herein shall not mandate thatvarious embodiments be implemented to perform the recited functionalityin the same order unless the context dictates otherwise.

Although the invention is described above in terms of various exemplaryembodiments and implementations, it should be understood that thevarious features, aspects and functionality described in one or more ofthe individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to theparticular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can beapplied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the otherembodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments aredescribed and whether or not such features are presented as being a partof a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the presentinvention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplaryembodiments.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unlessotherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposedto limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” shouldbe read as meaning “including without limitation” or the like; the term“example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item indiscussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms “a” or“an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more” or thelike; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,”“standard,” “known” and s of similar meaning should not be construed aslimiting the item described to a given time period or to an itemavailable as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompassconventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may beavailable or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, wherethis document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known toone of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass thoseapparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in thefuture.

The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “atleast,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instancesshall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or requiredin instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The use of theterm “module” does not imply that the components or functionalitydescribed or claimed as part of the module are all configured in acommon package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of amodule, whether control logic or other components, can be combined in asingle package or separately maintained and can further be distributedin multiple groupings or packages or across multiple locations.

Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described interms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations.As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art afterreading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their variousalternatives can be implemented without confinement to the illustratedexamples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying descriptionshould not be construed as mandating a particular architecture orconfiguration.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A kit of contact lenses, comprising: two ormore contact lenses, each lens having a known higher order aberrationand lens power; wherein one lens from said kit is applied to a patient'seye, and wherein the residual higher order aberration of the lens-eyesystem comprises a spherical aberration between negative 0.25 andpositive 0.55 microns over 6 millimeters.
 2. The kit of claim 1, whereina practitioner selects a lens from the kit and applies the lens to apatient's eye and measures a residual higher order aberration of thelens-eye system.
 3. The kit of claim 2, wherein if the residual higherorder aberration exceeds a predetermined magnitude, the practitionerselects a second lens from the kit, applies the second lens to thepatient's eye and measures the residual higher order aberration of thelens-eye system.
 4. The kit of claim 3, wherein the residual higherorder aberration of the lens-eye system comprises a spherical aberrationbetween negative 0.25 and positive 0.35 microns over 6 millimeters. 5.The kit of claim 3, wherein the residual higher order aberration of thelens-eye system comprises a spherical aberration between negative 0.45and positive 0.55 microns over 6 millimeters.
 6. The kit of claim 1,wherein the kit of contact lenses includes at least one lens of eachincremental low order power.
 7. The kit of claim 1, wherein the lensesare configured to have at least one base curve, one diameter, a seriesof low order aberration lens powers, and an increment of difference inlens power between lenses.
 8. The kit of claim 1, wherein each lens ismanufactured to have a known spherical aberration.
 9. The kit of claim8, wherein each lens is marked with a code defining its base curveradius, diopter power, and spherical aberration.
 10. The kit of claim 9,wherein each lens is marked using laser markings, color markings or silkscreen images.
 11. The kit of claim 1, wherein the kit comprises two ormore lenses of various low order powers that are manufactured to havetwo or more different known spherical aberrations.
 12. The kit of claim1, wherein the kit comprises two or more lenses that are manufactured tohave two or more base curves and two or more diameters.
 13. A method forusing a kit of contact lenses, comprising: selecting a lens from the kitand applying the lens to a patient's eye; measuring a residual higherorder aberration of the lens-eye system; if the residual higher orderaberration of the lens-eye system is not of a desired direction ormagnitude, selecting a second lens from the kit and, applying the lensto the patient's eye and measuring the residual higher order aberrationof the lens-eye system; and if the residual higher order aberration ofthe lens-eye system is of a desired direction and magnitude, selectingthe lens as the final lens for the patient's eye.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the higher order aberration comprises a sphericalaberration.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the higher orderaberration comprises a coma aberration.
 16. The method of claim 13,wherein the higher order aberration comprises a trefoil aberration. 17.The method of claim 13, wherein the residual higher order aberration ofthe lens-eye system comprise a spherical aberration between negative0.25 microns and a positive 0.35 microns over 6 millimeters.
 18. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the kit of contact lenses includes at leastone lens of each incremental low order power.
 19. The method of claim13, wherein the kit comprises two or more lenses of various low orderpowers that are manufactured to have two or more different knownspherical aberrations.
 20. The method of claim 13, wherein the kitcomprises two or more lenses that are manufactured to have two or morebase curves and two or more diameters.
 21. A method for using a kit ofcontact lenses, comprising: selecting a lens from the kit and applyingthe lens to a patient's eye; measuring a residual higher orderaberration of the lens-eye system; if the residual higher orderaberration of the lens-eye system is not of a desired direction ormagnitude, selecting a second lens from the kit and, applying the lensto the patient's eye and measuring the residual higher order aberrationof the lens-eye system; and if the residual higher order aberration ofthe lens-eye system is of a desired direction and magnitude, selectingthe lens as the final lens for the patient's eye; wherein the residualhigher order aberration of the lens-eye system comprise a sphericalaberration between negative 0.45 microns and a positive 0.55 micronsover 6 millimeters.
 22. A method for using a kit of contact lenses,comprising: selecting a lens from the kit and applying the lens to apatient's eye; measuring a residual higher order aberration of thelens-eye system; if the residual higher order aberration of the lens-eyesystem is not of a desired direction or magnitude, selecting a secondlens from the kit and, applying the lens to the patient's eye andmeasuring the residual higher order aberration of the lens-eye system;and if the residual higher order aberration of the lens-eye system is ofa desired direction and magnitude, selecting the lens as the final lensfor the patient's eye; wherein the lenses are configured to have atleast one base curve, one diameter, a series of low order aberrationlens powers, and an increment of difference in lens power betweenlenses.
 23. The method of claim 13, wherein each lens is manufactured tohave a known spherical aberration.
 24. The method of claim 23, whereineach lens is marked with a code defining its base curve radius, diopterpower, and spherical aberration.
 25. The method of claim 24, whereineach lens is marked using laser markings, color markings or silk screenimages.